Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• * Metastatic supraclavicular lymphadenopathy or malignant pleural effusion
• * Progressive disease
• * Must have received prior chemotherapy
• No symptomatic brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 to 75
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT no greater than 1.25 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No prior or concurrent cardiovascular disease that would preclude study
• Pulmonary:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior or concurrent pulmonary disease that would preclude study
• Other:
• No prior or other concurrent illness or medical condition that would preclude study
• No other prior malignancy except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanomatous skin cancer
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior docetaxel
• At least 3 weeks since other prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• Prior radiotherapy allowed
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Prior radical surgery for NSCLC allowed
• Concurrent palliative surgery allowed